NATIONAL THEATRE WALES

In Swansea

Shelf Life

April 2010

In partnership with
VOLCANO THEATRE &
WELSH NATIONAL OPERA

Directed by
CATHERINE BENNETT & PAUL DAVIES

Music by
PETER SWAFFER REYNOLDS

Design by
PAUL CLAY

Dramaturg
D J BRITTON

Cast
NIGEL BARRETT, GERRARD BELL, ANNA BJERRE-LARSEN, LINDSEY BUTCHER, THEO CLINKARD, JANE GUERNIER

About the production

In April National Theatre Wales, Volcano and Welsh National Opera joined forces with a team of internationally acclaimed artists to bring a unique multi-sensory experience to Swansea.

Touring through the old public library in Swansea, the performance included singing librarians, extraordinary dances, and a little more noise and disruption than is usually allowed in a space such as this.

Volcano is an internationally renowned touring company based in Swansea which has produced over 25 shows using a powerful physical style coupled with visual impact and innovative use of text.

The music was written by Peter Swaffer Reynolds, a multi-instrumental composer who has worked with circus, silent movies, theatre, dance and site-specific events for over 20 years. He spent formative years in Europe and Scandinavia learning from some of the most excellent musicians of improvisation and composition.

Other partners on this project included: Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea Metropolitan University and Gwalia Cyf.

An active online community followed the show, ranging from blogs, to images, discussions and more. Examples can be seen to the right of this page, or to read more please click here

Community

Swansea Assembly, to be continued...

Andy Field and I have been looking out for a venue for Swansea Assembly and Forest Fringe on 22nd/23… by Mathilde Lopez

Call for artists! Forest Fringe Microfestival in Swansea with National Theatre Wales, 24 & 25 April 2009

Forest Fringe began in Edinburgh as a space where artists could experiment and play in the midst of… by Andy Field

What the critics said

The Daily Telegraph ***
..this promenade production roams around and about the beautiful domed reading room of Old Swansea Central Library...
Read the full review here

The Guardian
Shelf Life is a collection of quirky snapshots, full of singing and dancing, seeking to show what life was like in Swansea's Old Library...
Read the full review here

South Wales Evening Post
This wild and wonderful production proved to be one of the most thought-provoking and beguiling creative works I have attended for some time.
Read the full review here

Western Mail
...a theatrical treat.
Read the full review here

Video archive

An online archive of video accompanied 'Shelf Life', including interviews with the performers, audience, trailers and more. Use the video player here to view more.